2005 · 19 years old at test · Petrol mostly

2005 Toyota Corolla MOT pass rate and common faults

11,258 MOT tests in 2024. 59.6% passed first time, compared with 56.5% for all cars the same age.

105Above average
Passed first time59.6%
Failed or needed repairs40.4%
Typical mileage at test103,000

Most common reasons for failing

Share of all 11,258 tests where this item caused a failure.

  1. Position lamp: not working5.5%
  2. Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect4.9%
  3. Service brake performance: excessively binding3.8%
  4. Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick3.3%
    443 marked dangerous
  5. Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively3.1%
  6. Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements2.5%
  7. Stop lamp: not working2.5%
  8. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.3%
    360 marked dangerous
  9. Headlamp: not working on dipped beam2.3%

Problem areas

Failure items found per 100 tests, by part of the car.

  1. Lights & electrics33.4%
  2. Brakes23.8%
  3. Suspension9.8%
  4. Visibility (wipers, screen, mirrors)8.0%
  5. Tyres6.4%
  6. Body & chassis5.7%
  7. Emissions & leaks5.4%
  8. Seat belts & airbags1.6%

Most common advisories

Not failures yet, but things the tester warned about.

  1. Rigid brake pipes: excessively corroded15.5%
  2. Coil spring: corroded so that its cross sectional area is reduced and seriously weakened14.7%
  3. Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm14.2%
  4. Tyres - condition: has a tear, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure13.2%
  5. Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened10.3%

What this means if you are buying one

This model year does better than most cars its age, so it is a reasonable used buy on MOT record alone. Before buying, check the area that fails most: position lamp: not working. Then look up the car's own MOT history on GOV.UK with its number plate, and look for repeat advisories.

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Questions

What is the MOT pass rate for a 2005 Toyota Corolla?

In 2024, 59.6% of 2005 Toyota Corolla cars passed their MOT first time, across 11,258 tests. The average for all 19-year-old cars was 56.5%.

What are the most common MOT failures on a 2005 Toyota Corolla?

The most common failure reasons were position lamp: not working; headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect; service brake performance: excessively binding. The biggest problem area was lights & electrics.

Is the 2005 Toyota Corolla reliable at MOT time?

Its MOT Rank score is 105, which is above average for a car of its age (100 means exactly average).